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Finduilas POV
In which someone flirts with Finduilas, Finduilas flirts with a few ideas, Denethor flirts with trouble, more people flirt with Finduilas, and she flirts with disaster.
Minas Tirith, Mid July, 2975 T.A.
Finduilas slept well and suffered only a little stickiness in her throat and chest upon rising. The day felt drier than it had been over the last few weeks. She dressed in her riding clothes – full trousers, boots, a loose blouse – and headed for the messenger stables after collecting a few carrots in the kitchen for the horses. Even with the young men returning to the City, Finduilas continued to take the horses up and down the mountain in the morning.
The change from bright to dark as she stepped into the stables dimmed her sight for a moment, so Finduilas heard Denethor before she saw him. He was giving a message pouch to a rider and identifying a few items that were to be delivered directly into the hand of his lieutenant, Halmir, in Osgiliath. Her sight was restored in time to see the messenger swing up on a steed and salute Denethor before riding out. The hoofbeats quickened to a trot as soon as he made the main street. Denethor looked at her in puzzlement before nodding.
'Good morrow to you, Finduilas. What brings you here so early?'
'I take spent messenger horses down to the main stables every morning and bring fresh steeds back up.'
'It is not right that you have been pressed into serv…'
'I have not been pressed into anything. I asked to do this. The stable master permits it as he had no spare hands and I am a very good rider.' She smiled brightly and walked past him towards the stalls on the left where the arrivals were kept. There was no point arguing with Denethor, for he would not allow himself to lose, so she simply had to do her task. Two horses waited for her, one saddled and another on a lead-line. Both nickered when they saw her; the messenger horses had become familiar with her over the last two months. The chestnut with the white fore-leg immediately nosed her pocket, knowing there would be something there. Finduilas laughed and rapped him lightly on the nose before pulling out a carrot for him. The bay whickered, eager for his share. While the horses crunched their carrots, she began dropping the rope gates across the stalls.
As she more than half expected, Denethor walked over to help. He took the bay's lead-line while she took the chestnut's reins, and followed her to the small courtyard before the stables. After he boosted her onto the chestnut, he did not hand her the lead-line to the second horse.
'If you do not mind the company, I am walking down to the first circle and will lead this one,' he said. 'It will be easier to manage the one horse if you need not lead another.'
'I welcome your company for the long route down, friend, and I do not mind waiting if you wish this one saddled so you may ride as well.'
'I prefer to walk.'
'Then let us go before it becomes too warm.' They had not gone very far, not even to the gate to the fifth circle, when Beregar trotted up. The young man held out a folded paper to Denethor, who took the paper and handed Beregar the lead-line. Beregar took charge of the horse and fell into line behind the other. Denethor slipped the paper into his pocket, then grasped the reins on Finduilas' mount as though he was going to lead her down the hill. She leaned forward and slapped his hand, making him let go of her horse.
'Do I look unable to manage my mount?'
'I only meant to guide the horse through the streets.' She tapped the horse with her heels, making it step out briskly. Denethor had no problem matching the pace with his long strides.
'Should you like to lead the horse, we can halt at Vinyamar and I will leave him to you. Should you like to provide me with some company, then walk back by my stirrup and speak.'
'If you ride so quickly, it will be difficult to speak.' She reined the horse in. They turned into the gate and clopped down the broad stairs to the fifth circle.
'Are you more rested today, Denethor? I admit to being worried by your weariness yester eve.'
'Yes, I am. A quiet supper and a full night's rest have restored me.' Liar. There were dark circles under his eyes and his face was drawn, though his carriage was smooth and controlled.
'I hope you shall not be leaving at once as you did before.'
'Not at once, Alquallë, but sooner than I would wish. The greatest threats have been defeated, but there will be smaller engagements all through the summer. There will be no long rest for the realm's defenders until the rains of autumn.'
Finduilas sighed. 'I feared that would be your answer. The Archivist will not be pleased by this news.'
'Then do not tell her.' They looked at each other sideways, and a small smile played across his face. 'What news may you tell me of the City?'
'What would you know?'
'Whatever has occurred and may be spoken of as we walk.'
Finduilas cast about for what would be of interest to him and would be suitable for public airing. An obvious topic came to mind. 'I can speak of how the market place has been. I usually visit it with Mother in the mornings after I finish with the messenger horses.'
'Yes! That I very much wish to hear. Please, go on.' She told him of what she had seen, what condition various goods had been in and how plentiful they were, whether merchants raised their prices on war fears, what people wished to trade for, and so forth. Silently Finduilas thanked her mother for all of the instruction over the last few weeks, for there were questions Denethor asked that she would not have been able to answer otherwise. Before she realized it, the long trip down the City was finished.
Denethor and Beregar went with her to the stables. There were no new horses to take up. It will be a long walk. The day was promising to be hotter than the previous days, as well as drier. The three walked back to the garrison inside the first circle, where Denethor bid her good day. He instructed Beregar to walk her back to Vinyamar.
Once they were back on the main way, Finduilas asked, 'My faithful Huan, how do you fare? I was very worried for you when you were gone, as were all the ladies in your loyal care.'
Beregar blushed to the tips of his ears. 'I am well, my lady. More well than my lord, I dare say. I never got into any fighting.' He sounded rather dejected about that.
'I dare say your mother is glad you did not! I know we ladies were all hoping that you would be well out of harm's way. Where were you?'
'I was put to use as a messenger between Lord Brandir in Anórien and the Osgiliath fort. They would never let me over the river to attend my lord as I wished. I wasn't even allowed into the garrison! I should have taken my messages directly to him.'
'But that would have put you into the battles.'
'I want not to be but a messenger!' The young man's face turned pink again, but this time in indignation. 'I do not lack courage! I spend all my free time in the training yards. I know bow and sword at least as well as any soldier, and a good deal better than many.' The fierceness in his expression made him look so like Denethor it gave Finduilas a shiver. She patted his arm gently to take the edge off his ire. A sheepish look replaced the fierce one. 'Forgive my outburst, my lady. I am proud to serve my lord and my city however I may.'
'I should hope you would be proud to serve your ladies as well,' she gently teased, making him smile and blush once more. 'I know you are a man of great heart, dear Huan. You are like my brother, Imrahil, who chafed at being told to remain in the City when our lord father went to defend the falas. But both of you were commanded by your lords to take care of the treasures they held most dear. Surely you do not begrudge your service to us?' He turned more red and stared at the ground before them, shaking his head. 'If you will permit it, Huan, I shall speak at a proper time to Lord Denethor and urge him to release you so you may join the Tower Guards.'
Beregar stopped and stared at her, his face lighting up with joy. 'You would do this for me?'
'Yes, Beregar, I would. You have said it is your heart's desire, and it would please me to see you attain it.'
'Thank you, thank you! You are the kindest, noblest lady in all of Gondor, Lady Finduilas!' The delighted young man seized her hand and kissed it, then dropped it and stepped away, abashed. Finduilas laughed and ruffled his hair as she so often did to Imrahil.
'Well, thank me not too grandly until the deed is done, my hound. And I know not what your master will think of my plea. Lord Denethor commands things as pleases him, and not for others.' Finduilas' stomach growled loudly, making them both giggle. 'I think we should stop at your parent's tavern for a bite on our way up. I did not break my fast this morning before going to the stables, believing I would swiftly return by horse.'
'Yes, anything you wish, my lady.' Beregar became quite serious again. They quickly walked to The Messenger's Rest. Instead of entering through the front door, however, Beregar led Finduilas down a narrow alley and into the kitchen court. A rough wooden table with some chairs stood under a vine covered arbor across the court from the kitchen door. He courteously bade her to sit while he fetched her breakfast. Soon, there was water and thin wine, sweet bread and plain, preserves, soft cheese and some sweetmeats. He would not sit with her, saying he was needed to help his parents and siblings with the morning customers.
The food was simple and delicious. Finduilas surprised herself with how much she ate. After she finished, she gathered the plates and leftovers in the basket they had arrived in, and entered the kitchen. It was a hot, bustling room, with girls and women spooning porridge, cutting up bread loaves, setting out cheeses and meats and jams, and whisking in and out the far door with empty or full platters, depending upon the direction of their route. Beregar was running up and down a stair to a cellar, fetching whatever the women called for, and did not notice her. A young woman spied Finduilas standing in the door and hurried over to take the basket. Shortly afterwards, Beregar's mother came in from the front room and nodded respectfully to Finduilas, who returned the gesture in kind.
'Welcome to our tavern, Lady Finduilas. Was the breakfast to your satisfaction?'
'Yes, Mistress, it was.' Finduilas realized she did not know the woman's name. 'What is the charge for this most excellent fare?'
'For you, my lady, nothing. If you would be so kind as to carry a message...' Finduilas nodded.
'I will see the Master Archivist this afternoon.'
'If you will please wait under the arbor for a few minutes. Beregar will finish his tasks in a moment.' The women nodded to each other again and Finduilas withdrew to the pleasant courtyard. Soon, Beregar appeared with a letter in one hand and a basket in the other. He handed her the letter.
'Mother has packed some sweets for you and your family, my lady, if you would care for them.'
'Is there enough to give to the other ladies?' He grinned and nodded. 'Then let us be off before it is too hot to walk.'
They climbed up the main way, back and forth across the face of the mountain, chatting happily. Finduilas asked Beregar to describe some of his messenger journeys which he did with much pride and only slight embellishments. She was relieved when they reached the lane that led to Vinyamar. The heat was getting worse and she was beginning to cough.
They stopped before the door. Beregar shifted from foot to foot for a moment, then shyly said, 'I wish my lord would have left me in your service, my lady. I do not think I would miss being a Guard so much.' He risked a glance at her, then blushed again and stared at his feet.
The contents of the basket are not the only sweet things about. The boy is sweet on you, goose! Finduilas was startled. She felt almost as foolish as when she learned Beregar had been set to spy upon her. You should have seen this. Time to put a stop to this nonsense. She made her face very stern.
'Well, I am glad he has not, Beregar.' The young man looked up. 'I have not forgotten how you played spy upon me, and I still do not approve.' Beregar looked stricken by her words, face losing color. Finduilas tried to soften the harshness of her words. 'Besides, you are better placed to serve Lady Aiavalë and the other ladies, who have no man in their house to serve and guard them.'
'I am sorry, my lady,' he whispered. 'I would not have spied, save on my lord's command.'
'I know, which is why I am not angry with you, Huan. But I think it best that you serve another lady.' He nodded, dejected. 'Now, no more of this long face, my hound. Take the sweets for this house around to the kitchen, then hurry with the rest to the archives. They will be glad there for the treat. Good day!' Finduilas turned and entered Vinyamar, firmly shutting the door in Beregar's face.
Finduilas was glad to hear that her mother was not going to the market this morning – one climb up the mountain was quite enough in this heat. Besides, she needed to think. After shedding her boots, she flopped onto her bed, resting her chin on crossed arms. This had been a most confusing set of days. First Brandir saying the captain was smitten with her, then Denethor being drunk and arguing about poetry, and now this with Beregar. She tried not to feel guilty for having been cruel to the poor fellow, but it would have been more cruel to let him keep thinking such things. And what of the captain? Is it not cruel to let him think such things? What do I think of Thorongil?
It was simple enough to picture the man – tall, lean but not scrawny, a noble face that could be pleasant when he smiled. Keen, piercing eyes. An easy gait and a soft voice. The lines near his eyes said there was laughter as well as care in his life. He is handsome enough. More than most. There could be no doubt why women found him charming. The last party had removed much of her sense of wariness around him, since he had mastered his unsettling stare. Mithrandir is right, and Brandir; he is an honorable man. Perhaps I am being too harsh to him. Perhaps I am letting Lady Lore's distaste for the captain guide me too much. Still…
Finduilas sighed and rolled onto her back, staring at the tiles set into the ceiling. They were small, adorned with delicate blue ships sailing forever on equally blue waves. Vinyamar sat on the crook of the lane and her window looked straight down the court to the main way. The bed was too low to let her see the street through the window, but there was a sliver of pale blue sky and the edges of rooftops to look at. Finduilas let the warmth of the day and the soft buzz of the street echoing up the lane lull her towards sleep.
A soft tap at the door was followed by Luinil peeking around the edge.
'Are you well, daughter?'
'Yes, just worn from the heat. I have almost no cough.'
'I have brought you some chilled wine.'
'Thank you!' Finduilas sat up while Luinil put the tray on the small table next to the bed. Her mother poured her a cup, then held up a second.
'May I join you?'
'Please!' Luinil poured a cup and was soon sitting tailor-style, her back against the headboard. Finduilas snuggled up against Luinil's shoulder and slipped an arm around her mother's waist. Luinil sighed contentedly and kissed Finduilas' brow, then began stroking her hair.
'I shall be very glad for this party of Maiaberiel's to be over.'
'I scarce see Ivriniel, for she is always at the lady's house helping plan things. What little I have heard makes me shake my head. It will be grand.'
'Yes, it will. Beruthiel is an expert in such things.'
Luinil choked on her wine and began laughing. 'Beruthiel? Is that what you call that devious woman?'
'It is what Denethor and Aiavalë call her, so I do as well.'
'Well named. The Master Archivist is better informed of the goings on of the City than her secluded life would lead one to expect.'
Finduilas knew that tone. Her mother was fishing for information. 'All news comes to the archive at some point, Mother, and Lady Lore is very wise, though her speech be awkward. Besides, she knows her sister well.'
'Hmm.' Luinil did not pursue the question further. They sat and sipped, enjoying silent company. Finduilas kept pondering the riddle of her feelings for the captain.
'Yes, lamb.'
'How did you know you were in love with Father?' Her mother smiled. 'Did you see him and just know? Did you learn to love him?'
'A bit of each, I think. I've told you that my cousin's father was of kin to the Swan House, and we sometimes met there. I thought him a nice enough young man, but we paid each other no mind. We were both very silly and very young. Then, at a celebration, I saw a handsome man who reminded me of someone, and he saw me and smiled most sweetly. It was not until we were closer that we recognized each other. We danced with no other the whole evening, and he asked my father for my hand on his next journey to Lossarnach. But that was barely love. We have learned, are still learning, how to love each other.' Luinil kissed Finduilas' cheek. 'And our children are the loveliest thing of that learning.'
Luinil gathered their cups and set them on the tray, then stood. 'I must go and attend a few things, daughter. Will you try to nap? I think it best for you to rest in this heat.' Finduilas said she would, and Luinil left. She peeled off her sweat-dampened riding clothes and hung them on pegs, then crawled under the sheet to sleep.
It was not until the next day when she dressed for the messenger stable that Finduilas remembered her errand for Beregar's mother. She hurried to the stable, found there were no horses needing to be taken to the lower stable, and set out for the archives. Lark greeted Finduilas with a hug and kiss and confirmed that Aiavalë was in her office already. The Archivist was not pleased to receive the battered letter a day late, glowering at the young woman before sending Finduilas off into the caverns to check books for mildew. It was better than braving the heat of the day or listening to Ivriniel natter on about the party tomorrow, so Finduilas set about her task in good spirits, no matter Aiavalë's bad humor.
Mairen was already checking books in the fifth cavern and welcomed Finduilas with a bright smile. The two spent a slow morning together examining each volume. They broke for a simple dinner of fruit, cheese and bread, then continued. Much to their pleasure, only a few books showed any damage.
'I will take these to Hador, Mairen,' Finduilas said when they had finished the row.
'He is not here today, Finduilas.'
'No matter. I shall put them in his workshop and he will attend to them when he returns.' Finduilas gathered up the five books and set off to Hador's room. It was full of many interesting and clever items – tools to fix things, leathers, parchments and papers to restore worn covers and pages, threads, wooden and metal stamps, and a number of fascinating workbenches. He could restore a few words on a page, but extensive scrivener and illumination work was sent to one of the shops in the third circle. She liked visiting Hador, for he was a jolly and garrulous fellow (at least when the Master Archivist was not present), and regretted he would not be there today.
When she entered his workshop, though, he was there, behind the screen at his writing desk. Mairen was wrong. Finduilas called out to him and walked around the screen. She jumped when the person sitting at Hador's desk was Denethor, not Hador.
Denethor did not look up from his work. His hair was loosely braided away from his face and his shirt-sleeves were rolled up to keep them out of the ink. Finduilas put her armload of books down on another table and hurried back. It did not take long to figure out what Denethor was up to. On a writing stand was set the letter from Thengel that Brandir had shown her. On the desk was a very nearly finished copy, done in a fair imitation of Thengel's hand. From the collection of paper, Denethor had even located a sheet that was almost an exact match in size and in nearly the same state of wear.
'Don't hang over my shoulder, Alquallë. Go sit. I am almost finished.'
She retreated to another chair and watched his back while he completed his work. In a quarter hour, it was done. Denethor stood and began rolling down his left sleeve. It was then that Finduilas noticed the gash across the back of his right arm.
'You lied! You were hurt! I saw it!'
'Not so loud, Alquallë!' Denethor admonished.
Finduilas marched over and took his right arm, examining the wound. It was short, just above his wrist, and there were some stitches at one end. The whole was red, though there was no heat in it when she touched it. She glared up at him.
'You lied!'
'Just as you keep saying that you are not bothered by your wretched cough!' he snapped right back. He pulled his arm from her grasp and began rolling down his sleeve. 'And what do you mean, you saw it?'
I saw it. Finduilas put her hands over her mouth and started shaking. It was true. I saw him bleeding and it was true. She could not make her legs obey her to walk to a chair and simply sat in a heap on the floor.
'I don't want these dreams!' she cried, covering her face with her hands. 'I don't want to see!'
'Alquallë, shh, shh, you will start coughing.' Denethor gently helped her up and sat her in a chair, then pulled up one of his own, sitting so close their knees touched. He held her hands until she quit shaking and could open her eyes again. 'You dreamed again of the light.'
'Yes. It was terrible!'
'I can see that in your face. You think this cut was shown in the dream?' She nodded. 'Whatever you saw, set your mind at rest. It is a small hurt only, and nearly healed.' He let go of her and sat back in his chair, steepling his hands. Sitting this close, Finduilas could see many small scratches across the backs of both of them, not merely the one deeper scratch. 'If you can speak, Alquallë, tell me what you saw.'
'You stood before the light, reading the book I gave you. All the blood of the tale began to run from the pages, falling to the floor and pouring into the fire-fall. Then, your…' She had to take a deep breath, 'your hands began weeping blood, and you thrust book and hands both into the fire to burn them clean. The book was scoured but your hands did not cease their weeping until the fall turned to silver ice and froze the wound.'
Denethor dropped his eyes to the ground, thinking. The tips of his forefingers tapped together as he sat. 'And did you have other dreams?'
'None that I can remember clearly. I only remember great waves and water and ships of stone. Do you still think my dreams prophecy something?'
'I cannot answer, for I am not wise in such things.'
He continued to stare at the floor, but his hands moved and he touched the wound on his arm through the sleeve. 'Perhaps I can explain your vision of the light. The wound I took in the battle with Harad and it had not finished healing when I went to Ithilien. In a skirmish, it broke open and bled again. The healer who was to put in the stitches bade me thrust it in a bucket of very cold water before he began, to help stanch the wound. The water… was drawn from the fall you see in your dreams. Later, I did read the book while I rested. That is what you saw.'
'It was still terrible!'
'I am sorry that you see such things.'
Finduilas was regaining her composure, and something occurred to her. 'You have not told Aiavalë, have you?'
'Nor do I intend to. There is naught she can do and I do not care to be scolded.' Denethor's usual arch arrogance returned.
'Your sister cares for you.'
'Aiavalë meddles. It is the one trait she and Beruthiel share.'
'Not the only thing. I think all three of you are prideful beyond reason.'
This amused him. 'I shall not disavow that charge, Alquallë. You have made it before.'
'And I think you meddle, as well.'
'How so?'
'What is it you are doing right now with that letter? And how did you get it? Did you steal it?' She had been so startled by the gash on his arm she had forgotten the letter.
'I merely borrowed it for a short time,' was his sly response. 'It will be returned.'
'Brandir does not know you have it.'
'No. And he shall remain in the dark about the letter, just as Aiavalë shall be about this cut, unless you choose to inform them. Are you going to tell them?'
Finduilas glared at him, then sighed and shook her head. 'I am not a spy upon you, Denethor. But what are you doing? Why do you copy the letter?'
'Is it not obvious? You said it yourself – it is proof that Thorongil is not of Gondor.'
'Denethor, what is it you intend to do with this copy?'
'Then why are you doing it?' This was becoming confusing.
'Nothing, unless he should try to make a claim he knows, and Beruthiel and the Steward know, to be untrue.' All humor had left Denethor's face, leaving behind a hard, unpleasant look. 'Then I will not have to wait upon my sister's husband's sense of honor. I will have the proof at hand.'
'I do not think Thorongil would do so.'
'I do not care to see if you are right.'
'What if he does not claim rule of Gondor based on a lie? What if he should say the truth, that he is of the Lost, and still presume upon the stewardship? Or the throne?'
Denethor did not answer at once, but stared at her. She refused to look away. 'I have not decided what I shall do if that should be the case.'
'Meaning you have not yet considered it.' He shrugged. 'Is that not short-sighted, prince?'
'I am corrected. I will now give it thought since the most likely possibility has been countered.'
'This may be a foolish question, Denethor, but, are there any royal claimants? We keep saying "Until the King shall return," but is there anyone who could make such a claim?'
Denethor's eyebrows went up and some of the sternness disappeared from his expression. 'That depends on whom you would count as a descendent of the royal line. There are some male-line descendents of minor sons. All are noted in the birth annals, so it is no great task to look them up. Most are of distant lineage, or else have mixed with lesser blood to a great degree, and have forsaken their claims.'
'And in the North, among the Lost?'
He shook his head decisively. 'No, there are none. This was confirmed by Eärnur in 1975, after the death of Arvedui, when he went to succor the northern realms. Any male-line descendents are from Anárion, and they are accounted for.'
Finduilas took a deep breath. 'Then why should it matter if Thorongil were to claim the throne? Perhaps that is what my dreams mean, that it is time for a new line of kings. Would not a king bring hope?'
Denethor could have been carved from stone, he sat so still. He did not even blink. She counted sixteen heartbeats before he moved. Then he simply stood and returned to Hador's worktable and very deliberately began neatening it. Finduilas rose and followed. His face remained still when his words came, clipped, sharp.
'This is Gondor. Not some heathen land. Our king is of Elendil, of Númenor, of Lúthien. That is the blood that binds us to our duty. The Stewards shall not fail it.'
The blood that binds us. Finduilas watched his hands move across the table, red line standing out against sun-darkened skin. Through the fabric of the shirt sleeve, she could make out the wound on his arm. He could have lost his hand, as Beren did. He is bound to that bloody tale. It is for him to do what has come after. That is what I saw. She laid a hand on his arm, careful of the wound, stilling his motion. He would not look at her.
'Friend, I am a fool, and spoke poorly. Pray, be not angry with me. I did not understand.'
'I am not angry with thee, Alquallë. You have only said what others say, and I must answer it. Where is the honor of Gondor if any warlord may lay claim to her? Are we to be governed by whomever strews the most carnage over the land?' Finally, Denethor turned and looked at her.
'You know well that winning battles is not the whole of rule, though it may be the greater part in this time of Darkness. Let us say that Thorongil should claim the rule of Gondor. Let us say what is true, that he has nobility and courage aplenty, and is not some untutored savage. Will that suffice to be a king of Gondor? Mayhap. And when the next warlord appears at the gates, and the one after that?'
Finduilas shook her head. 'As I said, friend, I am a fool. I am a prince and should know better. Dol Amroth would not yield to a pirate, no matter how great a foe of the Corsairs.' She let her hand rest very gently on the shirt sleeve above the wound. 'And forgive me more for treating lightly this bond and sacrifice that you have made already, no less than any other who defends Gondor. If Thorongil may garner acclaim in battle, his deeds rest upon yours that preceded his own, and upon the care you give that is not the clash of armies. I read the reports that you write. I am as bad as Beruthiel to set at naught your labors.'
The harshness in his face subsided, though it remained stern. 'You have a great deal more wickedness to learn, prince, before you rival my sister. Either of them.' At that, a sly, humorous gleam came to Denethor's eye and Finduilas shook a finger at him.
'I think all three of you also share in wickedness, along with pride and meddling! I have a good mind to tell on you to Aiavalë.' That made him smile a little as he turned to finish setting the table to rights.
'If you wish to remain in my confidences, you will not say a word to the Archivist.'
'And what confidences have you to share?'
Denethor gathered Thengel's letter and the copy, which was now dry, and carefully rolled them up together. From his pocket he pulled a small, hard leather tube into which he slipped the letters to keep them neat. Putting the case back in his pocket, he offered her his arm.
'Shall we go?'
'Where to?'
'I have an appointment with the Prince. Are you ready to go home, or have you more to attend to in the archives?'
'No. My last task was to deliver the damaged books here.' She took his arm and they left. The heat was terrible once they were upon the stone street.
And so it passed,
the mighty field, and turned to dust,
to drifting sand and yellow rust,
to thirsty dunes where many bones
lay broken among barren stones.
The lines of the poem Denethor had recited but two days before returned to her mind. His right arm was crooked for her to grasp, and the shadow of the wound showed dark where his shirtsleeve pulled tight.
'Does it hurt?'
'The cut.'
'A little.'
'You should…'
'Please do not tell me what I should do. I have heard that more than I care for the last few days.'
'I am sorry, friend. I seem only to make you cross today.'
Denethor did not answer. When they reached Vinyamar, he nodded politely to her and walked to Adrahil's study. Her father greeted him, then shut the door firmly behind them. She wondered what they were meeting to discuss and fancied it had to do with who was telling Denethor what he should do.
There was no opportunity to go to the archives the next day. The morning was taken up with market-going with Luinil, while the afternoon was spent preparing for the party at Maiaberiel's that evening. Finduilas gladly spent several hours with Ivriniel primping and fussing over their hair and clothes, gossiping about who would be there and what would happen. The party itself did not start until close to sundown because of the summer heat, and would continue far into the night.
As the Swans walked up the court to the main street, Denethor walked past. Adrahil hailed him and he paused.
'Good evening, Denethor. Are you on your way to the celebration?'
'Would you walk with us?'
'I would be honored, Adrahil,' he replied with a small bow, and gestured for the couple to precede him. Denethor moved as though to offer Ivriniel his arm, as was proper. Finduilas was privately pleased to see Ivriniel grab Imrahil's arm so as to avoid Denethor, though it was a terribly rude thing for her sister to do. One of Denethor's eyebrows rose to a great height and he stared coldly at Ivriniel as she walked past him. Finduilas slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. The two fell into step behind her siblings.
'How fare you, friend?' she quietly asked, gently patting the back of his wrist with her other hand.
'I pulled the last of the stitches out. They were itching abominably.' Finduilas made a face at that news. 'I spent all day reading and preparing reports and trying to keep your cat from sleeping on them.'
'She is a wise cat. You should have followed her advice and napped. Have you returned that item you borrowed?'
'I thought to do so tonight. There is little other reason to attend.'
'I am curious as to how you borrowed it in the first place.'
Finduilas glanced up and saw a mischievous expression on his face, reminding her of the drawings of the little boy in the book of poetry. Other people were drawing near as people converged on the grand house at the other end of the fifth circle, so she could not press him for more details. There was a crush of guests at the door to the house, making Denethor let go her arm so she could squeeze between some people blocking the way. When she turned to reclaim his arm, he was gone. Brandir called out to them from further up the entry hall so there was no opportunity to see where her escort had disappeared to.
The party was as loud and lascivious as it had promised to be. Some of the dresses were cut so low and clung so tightly that Finduilas was not sure why breasts were not popping out of their cloth bindings. Wine flowed as freely as hands wandered, and few seemed to mind a pat any more than they minded their glass being refilled. Her parents exchanged a long, disapproving stare before following Brandir into the courtyard.
The party was slightly less indecorous here. On the far side, near the fountain, stood Maiaberiel, flanked by Denethor and the Steward. Thorongil was to the far side of Ecthelion. All four watched Adrahil and Luinil approach. For a moment, Finduilas wondered how Denethor had moved so quickly through the crowd as to be in the courtyard before them, but then she noticed something more interesting to ponder.
Ecthelion and Denethor, at first glance, looked nothing alike. Denethor was all angles and long limbs, made more so by the privations of war. Thorongil and her father were much the same as the Warden, though less worn. Ecthelion was a broad-shouldered, powerfully built man, bordering on burliness, with little grace. But when father and son stood together, particularly with Maiaberiel as a perfect female copy of her brother, the resemblance could be seen. The three of the Steward's house held themselves in the same way – upright, alert, challenging – and the look around their eyes matched exactly. In this company, Thorongil's resemblance to Denethor was not so great. He lacked a quality of hardness in his face, particularly near his eyes, that marked this line of Húrin. Every child of Ecthelion she had seen bore this mark.
Finduilas slowed, then stopped, not wishing to approach. Grimness has taken abode in their very bones. So much ruthlessness in one spot. She pitied Thorongil having to stand there.
A tap on her shoulder made her turn, and she saw it was one of the young men in Ivriniel's circle of friends. Within a few minutes, she, Imrahil, and Ivriniel were chattering happily with other young nobles. They clustered near a table with food and wine and paid their elders no mind as the sun set and the air cooled. Ivriniel looked like a queen with a crown of tiny white roses and a dress the color of the sky, and the young men assiduously paid her court.
When it was full dark, Maiaberiel called for the center of the courtyard to be cleared for dancing. Lanterns looped from one side of the court to the other, casting just enough light that all the women were beautiful. The musicians were on a balcony above the fountain, and revelers stood in the arcade to watch and wait their turns. Neither Finduilas nor Ivriniel had to wait, for every dance brought each a new partner. Finally, Finduilas could feel herself becoming short of breath and had to beg off another round.
'My dear girl, you look exquisite tonight!'
She whirled around, startled by the loud voice, and found herself almost in Ecthelion's arms. Maiaberiel was next to him. Finduilas tried to edge back a step, but the crowd was too dense to permit retreat. She smiled as cheerfully as she could.
'Good evening, my Lord Steward. It is a lovely party, is it not?'
'Not half so lovely as yourself, Finduilas,' he replied. The Steward looked her over appreciatively, his gaze making her skin itch. 'You are what he prefers. I have procured for the Steward before, so I am well aware of his likes and dislikes.' Morwen's words echoed in her head. It is not so! There is nothing untoward. Do not let that corrupt woman's words unsettle you. The crowd behind her moved and she was shoved forward. Ecthelion helped her keep her feet, then kept his hand on her arm. It was just firm enough that she could not slip out from under the grasp.
'You are too, kind, my lord.'
'It is impossible to show too much kindness to you, my dear.'
Maiaberiel laughed and reached out to pat Finduilas' shoulder. 'Finduilas, I have so missed you these last few weeks. Ivriniel is wonderful company, but I must admit to having a preference for you. You are as dear as a sister to me, you know.' Beruthiel's hand caressed her other arm, then took her by the wrist, preventing flight. 'Your sister said you have to spend much of your time in the archives for your health. I do worry over you, always in the company of that woman.'
'There is no need to worry over me, I assure you.' There was no more she could say in reply to Beruthiel's insult to Aiavalë and remain civil.
'Where have you been hiding all this night, Finduilas? Captain Thorongil has asked after you twice, you know.' Maiaberiel smiled and squeezed the girl's wrist.
'Really? Oh, dear, I would not wish to disappoint him. Where is he?' she replied quickly. Anything to get away from these two. The older woman and the Steward shared a look, then Beruthiel smiled broadly as she scanned the crowd.
'Over here. I see him.' Finduilas had no choice but to follow where the other led, not that she minded leaving Ecthelion. It took a small amount of shoving but they were soon at Thorongil's side. 'Look who I found, captain!'
Thorongil's smile was genuine. He bowed his head to Finduilas, but did not look away from her eyes. 'Finduilas, I am glad to see you.'
'The feeling is mutual, Thorongil.' Though my reason may be more complicated than your own. She finally extricated her wrist from Maiaberiel's grasp. 'I was looking for you for a dance, good sir. Forgive me if I presume.'
'It is no presumption. Will this dance suit you, or shall we wait for another?'
'This one!' she cheerfully replied. Get me away from this woman! Maiaberiel took Thorongil's wine glass and shooed them towards the other dancers. As soon as they began dancing, Finduilas remembered why she did not like Thorongil as a partner. He could never quite get the steps right. It was almost correct, but at certain moments he would step in the wrong way, as though his feet had their own mind. Finduilas bore up with the small stumbles and pinched toes, grateful the dance was short. She made herself cough a little when it ended to avoid having to dance again.
'Please, may we stand quietly? I need to rest.'
'There is little I would like better.'
Thorongil guided her to the edge. She removed her arm from his on the excuse of getting something to drink. All the touching was making her flinch. When it became clear that the captain was not going to leave her be and find another dance partner, Finduilas cast about for something to say.
'I fear all the talk is of serious things these days, Captain.'
'You promised to call me Thorongil,' he chided, but he smiled as he did so. It was a wonderful smile, free of calculation. He was happy for her to be standing there, and that was all. 'You said we would not speak of serious things, so our talk need not be so.'
'I promised that in our last converse, Thorongil, not this one. Be assured that I have no wish to hear of battles and ruin! But I do have a complaint.'
'Of what?'
'You told me and my guests a wonderful tale several weeks ago, but it was a falsehood. You made no such ride to Edoras and did not see what you claimed.'
Thorongil's smile was replaced by exasperation. 'Twas no falsehood! I have seen spring in the Eastfold many times. It is as I described.'
'But you rode not to Edoras this spring. That was the falsehood.'
Thorongil stared at her, then shrugged. Leaning close, he said in a very soft voice, 'The Warden required secrecy to prevent Gondor from losing its advantage of surprise. Until we returned, not even the Steward knew.'
'Ecthelion thought you had gone to Rohan?' she whispered back. He straightened up and nodded his head. Did Father know this? Was he privy to the secrets? I wonder if Brandir told Beruthiel? He could not have, if the Steward was left in ignorance. She sought out Ecthelion across the crowd, but could not find him. 'How could you not tell the Steward?'
He shook his head slightly and tapped his lips with a finger, warning her to speak softly. 'There was a change of plan, and we could not risk sending messages that could be captured and read, but he knew when we returned. Please forgive my falsehood. Until victory was assured, neither I nor Lord Brandir could risk saying anything.'
Finduilas blushed. 'Forgive my impertinence, Thorongil. I should have thought better of your reasons.'
'To one unused to the deceits of state, it would seem unreasonable for me to say one thing when the truth is another. There is nothing to forgive.'
But I am practiced at such things, though perhaps not so well as you. Let us see how truthful you can be when war is not at hand. 'Then perhaps you may instruct me, Thorongil, on another matter. It is widely said that you are the one who planned all of the great strategies of the war, both south and north, but some say it is untrue. Our victory is secure, so the truth may be spoken. What is so?' She fixed an innocent gaze on him.
He smiled and shook his head. 'It is not so. It took the wisdom of all the captains to bring about our victories.'
'You have heard these rumors, though?' Impatience flashed briefly over the captain's face.
'I have heard much foolishness. It is not worth discussing. Certainly not here.'
'Not here, of course not! Forgive me for pursuing such serious things. But you will correct others on this count, as you just did me? It does a great disservice to the wisdom of the other captains to have them slighted so.'
The captain watched her carefully, then gestured towards the dancers. 'Would you care for another dance, Finduilas?'
That did not answer my question. 'No, I would like to rest a while longer. I am sure there are other partners should you wish to dance.'
He smiled shyly, reminding her of Beregar. 'I fear I do not care for another partner, so I will keep you company, if you do not mind.'
'Of course not.'
Finduilas soon tired of the whirl and began watching the people who moved through the arcades. Her parents were never still. Luinil would invite lords to join her for a dance and chat with them. Adrahil moved from group to group, sometimes talking, sometimes just listening. Every so often, the two would meet up, exchange a few words, then go about their business. Ecthelion and Maiaberiel did much the same. Denethor stood with Brandir, nodding absently while his brother-in-law chattered at him. After some time, Luinmir strolled up and tried to talk to them. Denethor stared at her with undisguised disdain, then said something to Brandir, taking the other's glass. Brandir grinned and bowed grandly to Luinmir before leading her off to dance. A moment later, Denethor melted into the crowd. Beruthiel is not going to be happy with you, Brandir. You were set to keep an eye on her brother. The thought came unbidden, making Finduilas wonder at her own grimness.
Finduilas and Thorongil stood together quietly for more than a half-hour. She was not quite sure when, but Denethor showed up among the dancers, Luinil as his partner. From their expressions, they were having an interesting conversation. After they parted, she watched Denethor do much as her mother was doing – selecting certain women for a dance, talking to them briefly, then finding another partner. The women made much of dancing with him, flirting all the while. Finduilas wondered if they knew of his oath and that their attentions were futile. At one point, Denethor danced with Beruthiel. Others stepped back and applauded the two, for they danced masterfully. Finduilas was not sure how they could bear to be in such proximity each to the other.
Her father worked his way through the crowd closer and closer until he arrived next to them. Adrahil greeted her with a kiss and the captain with a handshake. 'How are you, daughter? Not tiring yourself out, I trust?' he jovially inquired.
'No, not at all, Father. I danced for a while and have had Captain Thorongil to keep me company while I rested.'
Her father smiled broadly at the other man. 'Would you mind, Finduilas, if I borrowed the captain for a few minutes? I promise not to keep him long.'
I would prefer that you take us both aside so I may hear what you and Mother have been up to all evening. Finduilas shook her head. 'No, I mind not at all, Father. Be sure to return him when you are through!'
'I shall do so.' With that, the two men slipped away towards the front of the house. She had no doubt but that they were going out to the street to have a private conversation. Sighing, Finduilas turned back to the party. It was not long before she felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. Denethor. A look over her shoulder confirmed the thought. She motioned for him to come to her side.
'That was a lovely dance.' She spoke in a murmur.
He replied in kind, 'I have known puff adders less venomous than my sister.'
'Borrowing appears to be in the air.' He raised an eyebrow. 'Father borrowed Thorongil from me a few minutes ago, promising to return him. I think they are out in the street.'
'I am impressed that the Prince could convince the captain to be parted from you. Your father is most persuasive.' There was something unpleasant in his tone that seemed aimed at both the captain and her father. Finduilas decided to change the subject.
'And have you returned all that you have borrowed?'
Denethor shrugged nonchalantly. 'Yes, in as good condition as when it came to me. I always take care with written things. Aiavalë taught me such habits early.'
'You seem to make a habit of borrowing books and such without asking leave.'
'I would not wish to concern anyone unduly.'
'Like a Steward who knew not that his son-in-law and one of his captains never went to Rohan?'
At that, both eyebrows went up. 'And where did that confidence come from?'
'It should have come from you.'
'Ah, Thorongil. I will need to have a word with him.'
'Why is that, Alquallë?'
'Because then he may hesitate to confide in me, if he knows I would speak to you.'
'Perhaps you are a closer rival to Beruthiel than I had imagined.' They looked sideways at each other and Finduilas could not help her giggles. Denethor's face did not really become less stern, but his eyes were pure mischief. She grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the dancers, who were starting a new song.
'Come now! You must have a dance in honor of your victory!'
'Over our enemies?'
'Of course, but also for successfully returning what you have borrowed!'
Denethor allowed himself to be led out. The song was sprightly, but not too fast, so she could enjoy the dance without worrying about missing a step. It was also a long tune. As at her parent's anniversary celebration, Denethor was a smooth and accomplished partner, expertly guiding her among the others, never missing a step. As they danced, grimness left him and he pulled her closer. To her delight, a smile grew on his face, a true smile, not one of his usual sly smirks or half-hearted grimaces. For a moment Finduilas was certain he would laugh.
'Is this not better?'
'Is what better than what, Alquallë?'
'Our gaiety! Is this not better than grimness?' she teased him. In the next second, she wished she had bitten her tongue. His smile vanished and his body stiffened. The handsome, happy man she had been dancing with disappeared, and she was left with the High Warden of the White Tower staring down at her most disapprovingly. They completed their dance in silence.
When the music ended, Denethor tucked her arm firmly under his and walked them away from the dancers. With his free hand he snagged a glass of something off the tray of a passing server and handed it to her.
'Here. You should have something to drink.'
'I care for being told what I should do no more than you. If I wish for something, I will say so.' He set the drink on the tray of a server going the other way. 'Why are you so wed to being grim?' Finduilas demanded.
Denethor looked startled at her words and a pained expression crossed his face, quickly replaced by his cold, mocking mask. 'Because it suits me.'
'I think you pursue it for no more reason than your pride.'
'Think whatever you like, girl,' was his acerbic reply. Denethor looked about, then set off through the crowd, pulling her along much as Maiaberiel had earlier in the evening. Another quality they share. They stopped when they reached Luinil. The other Swans were nowhere to be seen. Denethor bowed shallowly to her mother.
'Luinil, I did not wish to leave your daughter unattended in this crowd. It is a bit boisterous for such a young girl.'
'Thank you for bringing her to me. Now if I could only find my other two, I would be content.'
'I fear I must attend to other business. Good evening.'
'Good evening, Denethor.' He bowed again and strode away quickly. Finduilas glared after his retreating back.
'Such a face!' Her mother gave one of her ears a tug. 'Did you argue with the Warden?'
'I begin to think it impossible to do anything save argue with that man. He is most aggravating! Sometimes, I swear, he is contrary simply to be so.'
Any further words about Denethor were interrupted by the arrival of Adrahil and Thorongil, back from their talk outside. Thorongil greeted Luinil courteously, then smiled and nodded to Finduilas. Why should I not enjoy the company of someone who wishes to be agreeable? Father approves of him, if Denethor does not. Thorongil is not afraid to take joy in things that are simply joyful. She smiled in return and wagged a finger at the two men.
'That was much more than a few minutes! I was wondering if you would ever return.'
'We are returned now and shall stay,' Adrahil replied. Finduilas held out a hand to Thorongil.
'I am quite rested. Would you care for another dance?' Finduilas determinedly paid no attention to the dour man who leaned against a pillar of the arcade, watching.
Characters introduced in this chapter, in order of appearance:
- Adanel – OC. Beregar's mother, eldest half-sister to Denethor, 56 years old.


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Friday Ephemera
January 27, 2012
Amuse small children with this giant inflatable spider puppet. // Lionel Richie's Hello remixed by Matthijs Vlot. // Couples, vacuum-packed for freshness. // Shaolin kung fu monks. // Can you match the colours? // How to spoil your cat. // Small girl and lion. // A very loud snoring dormouse. // Painting in haste. (h/t, Elephants Gerald) // 48 years of Doctor Who and it's not getting any better. // If Beavis and Butt-Head were real. // Bill Whittle on presidential iconography. // Every home needs a pile of huge woollen pebbles. // And then there's the giant camera of which the legends foretold. // "That's the mistake that Karl Marx made."
How to massively improve the songs of Depeche Mode:

subset: commoncrawl


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Advanced Search
Virtualization | Q&A
Kentucky institution rolls out desktop virtualization in its computer labs for the upcoming school year.
The University of Kentucky is in the middle of a desktop virtualization implementation that will open new doors for students using the school's 1,200 computers across 18 different computer labs. When the project is completed, students will no longer have to be physically present in one of those labs in order to use the software housed on those desktops and laptops.
"They'll be able to use the university's computer resources, whether they are on campus or off campus," said Vince Kellen, CIO for the Lexington, KY, school, "using their own computers.
Kellen and his team are working with Dell to finish the project before students return to the campus in the fall. Here, Kellen discussed the reasons behind the implementation, the progress made so far and the challenges UK's IT team has run into.
Bridget McCrea: Why is it time to virtualize UK's computer labs?
Vince Kellen: It's about mobility. A lot of students coming on campus these days are bringing all sorts of devices--from laptops to tablets to mobile phones. We wanted to give our entire student population--regardless of location--access to our academic software. At the same time, we want to encourage the use of "study spaces," where students can study together and collaborate in small groups. To accommodate this, our academic software has to be available for use on laptops and other mobile devices.
McCrea: Why was desktop virtualization the right choice?
Kellen: We've been looking at virtualization for a couple of years now. Every time we considered it, we evaluated the price of making this move and couldn't justify it. Now, the pricing on the technology is such that we can make the switch and budget for it internally. We'll redirect some of the money that was allocated to purchasing PCs and use it for this project instead. Over time, we'll probably remove a number of the physical PCs that are in the labs, thus reducing our equipment and replacement costs even further.
McCrea: How were your computer labs set up?
Kellen: We have under our control about 1,200 computers in 18 labs that are sprinkled across campus. So that is how we handle them now. We have another 500 to 600 computers in other physical locations around campus.
McCrea: How will the labs change, from the student perspective?
Kellen: They will visit a Web site and get a virtual desktop through remote access to a campus computer. Once logged on, they'll be able to use the software as if they were sitting in a computer lab.
McCrea: Are there limitations to what the virtualized system will handle?
Kellen: This system will be open to all UK students, but in some cases it may not work as well, and lab time may still be necessary. For example, if a teacher is using a software package that requires a specialized input device, then that won't be a good candidate for software virtualization. Architecture and design students will likely continue to use the labs, for example, as will those courses that are using Mac software. However, the setup will work just fine for at least 98 percent of software that's currently in use on campus.
McCrea: What obstacles have you run into?
Kellen: Mainly pricing and negotiating with vendors, who are finally coming down and offering prices that are doable for us. The other challenge is getting everybody ready, and used to the idea that you don't need to have a physical box next to you in order to run these programs anymore. We're working through this issue with training on the new system, and by educating staff on how beneficial it will be for students to be able to work in an "untethered" computing environment.
McCrea: What's the next step?
Kellen: Right now we're putting together the order for the Dell equipment and Citrix Systems software, and we plan to have everything up and running by September for Phase I, which will accommodate 500 current users. We'll monitor usage and see how quickly (or slowly) the system is embraced. If usage is growing quickly, we'll ramp up during Phase II. If it's going slowly, then we'll do more marketing and promotion to get more users onto the system. Looking ahead, we may advance to a third phase, which would find UK's faculty and staff computers incorporated into the virtualized system. We're tackling this in steps, measuring the progress and making decisions based on those results.
About the Author
Bridget McCrea is a business and technology writer in Clearwater, FL. She can be reached at [email protected].
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 18, 2020MEDIA CONTACT: KIRA CALM LEWIS, 301-446-3327 - email@example.com
M-NCPPC and Bowie State University Create Play More TV Partnership Features a Fun and Informative Family Show for Prince George's County Residents
RIVERDALE, MD – The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George's County announces a partnership with Bowie State University to create Play More TV. Play More TV is a fun and informative family show for the residents of Prince George's County that features various programs, performances, and services to help keep residents active while in the comfort of the home.
"This partnership with Bowie State University provides another way for us to connect with our patrons and provide recreational and educational activities that showcase the services we offer. We'll continue to provide ways to engage with our community during this time of social distancing," says Bill Tyler, Director of the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation.
The first two episodes of Play More TV, intended for children, include segments such as teaching American Sign Language, "no-bake" cooking demonstrations, arts, and craft projects, choreographed dance routines, and more. Play More TV will expand its programming to include fitness, art, and nature projects for adults.
"Bowie State University & BSU-TV appreciate the opportunity to partner with this special program," states Dr. Otis Thomas, Chair and Professor, Bowie State University Department of Communications.
Play More TV airs on the BSU-TV station, on Comcast 74, and Verizon 43 channels at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. 9:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. For more information about Play More TV and other Department of Parks and Recreation virtual programs and activities, visit the Online Resource Center at pgparks.com.
The Department of Parks and Recreation delivers an award-winning park system through progressive, innovative leadership and a commitment to the community and the environment in Prince George's County. For more on the Department of Parks and Recreation, visit www.pgparks.com and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Instagram. The M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities in all programs and services.
WBSU Bulldog Nation Radio and BSU-TV provide high-quality media production of campus projects, sporting, and special events, as well as community and educational programs. While audiences access this engaging content through worldwide streaming, BSU communication students access something even more valuable – a first-rate education.


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"Detail, class and wonderful British charm completes this unique Essaouira riad"
Dar Maya is a luxury boutique hotel in Esasouira, offering five rooms, a spa and heated dip-pool in a chic, tranquil Riad in the heart of Essaouiras historic medina. Having successfully blended a mix of understated Moroccan and contemporary European styles, Dar Maya oozes elegance, subtlety and intimacy.
Our aim at Dar Maya is to make your stay at our Riad in Essaouira as enjoyable as possible, and we offer an impeccable level of service that only a small luxury hotel can provide. The onsite spa at Dar Maya has been beautifully crafted in tadelakt. Massage is available in guest rooms allowing them to drop off onto their bed after, for a deeply relaxing experience.
With stunning ocean views from the terrace of Dar Maya, the hotel is a few minutes walk to all the main attractions and amenities including the bustling cafes, souks, port, beach and some of the best restaurants in Essaouira.
Our approach to food at Dar Maya is to keep it simple, fresh and made with local, seasonal ingredients only. If you want to dine at Dar Maya in the evenings in the snug dining room, there is a Moroccan three-course menu, which changes daily. There is also a menu featuring hot and cold snacks and beverages, which you can order from at any time of the day at Dar Maya. There is no cut off period for breakfast
so feel free to lie in as long as you want! You can take breakfast on the roof terrace, dining room or patio.
Dar Maya has a large raised sunny roof terrace protected from the elements with stunning ocean views and a heated dip-pool.
The central courtyard at Dar Maya contains a glorious fountain, which is the perfect place to relax and unwind.
A funky communal lounge, with comfy seating, feature fireplace, well stocked library, Bose iPod dock and a PC with free internet access make this Riad in Essaouira that bit more special.
All rooms at Dar Maya include complimentary WiFi, sumptuous bedding with Egyptian cotton sheets and duvets, air conditioning and working fireplaces in keeping with the Riads feeling of a boutique hotel.
The spacious marble bathrooms all feature bathtubs with overhead showers, under-floor heating and heated towel-rails. Plus handmade bath products, luxurious bathrobes and hairdryers.
Base prices are in Euro: Sterling, USD and Moroccan dirham rates will vary by exchange rate.
Akshood (Wood) Double Room
With walls of mellow mocha, elegant Akshood at Dar Maya has a relaxing seating area and an open fireplace. The colonial inspired en-suite bathroom includes a marble bathtub.
Amane (Water) Double bedroom
Amane has a cosy seating and dressing area along with an open fireplace in this beautiful Essaouira Riad. The en-suite bathroom, with its espresso-coloured tadelakt walls, includes a marble bathtub.
Tignna (Sky) Suite
Light-filled Tignna, with its calm, grey tones, has an open fireplace and its own balcony. The en-suite bathroom includes a two-person polished tadelakt round-shaped bathtub.
Akal (Earth Suite)
Akal has a sumptuous bed upholstered in suede, an open fireplace and its own balcony. The en-suite bathroom, with elegantly shaped Persian arches, includes a two-person marble bathtub. The large beds in Dar Maya offer a very grand feel to your stay
Laafit (Fire) Suite
Decorated in shades of soft stone, Laafit has an open fireplace and its own balcony looking down on the patio of this beautiful Essaouira Riad. The en-suite bathroom, with its traditional Moroccan arches, includes a two-person marble bathtub.
Please note:
Tel: 00212(0) 524 47 23 96
15 Rue Ibn Roch
Cuisine: French Moroccan
This French owned restaurant, popular with many returning guests, offers an unusual but beautiful menu. In particular are the fish on offer plus molten chocolate cake to finish.
Taros Café
Tel: 00212(0) 524 47 64 08
Placce Moulay Hassan, Medina
Cuisine: Fun and trendy Moroccan
This 200 year old building houses a terrace overlooking the main square and port with incoming fising boats, live music and ponchos for when you get cold make this a welcoming must visit for a meal or just a drink.
Caravane Café
Tel: 00212(0) 524 78 31 11
Rue du Qadi Ayyad - Médina
Cuisine: World Cuisine From Every Continent
A colourful artist retreat with a fun quirky atmosphere set in romantic intimacy. The international cuisine is some of the best in Essaouira
Hammam & Beauty
Hammam and beauty treatments at Dar Maya's exclusive spa. Begin with a traditional scrub in the intimate hammam and follow with an in room deep relaxing massage by our own fully trained specialist
Enjoy one of the two 18-hole golf courses in and around Essaouira
Cookery course
Learn to cook Moroccan cuisine at the highly recommended L'Atelier de Madada.
Gnawa Festival
The world famous free Gnawa Festival returns to Essaouira from the 20th to 23rd of June 2013.
"I had the best experience in Dar Maya. Its beautiful, tidy and very well decorated. the rooms are very well equipped with everything you might need. The entire hotel is always perfectly clean and the staff are attentive but always respectfully. The location is excellent and the pictures on the website are exactly what the rooms look like. Be sure to ask the manager for his advise on places to visit during your stay in Essouira!
April 2013
O Cofino - Guatemala City, Guatemala"
O Cofino
"Beautiful room, relaxing and stunning Riad, great personal service from the friendly staff (who booked us into the best restaurants in town and then walked us to them!), Gareth (the owner) was a pleasure to meet and really does care that your stay is everything you want it to be - an excellent place to stay. We will be coming back!"
Andy from London
Quiet area in the North of the Essaouira medina with a short walk to one of the main market streets, and 10 minutes to the working fish market port and Essaouira beach. Located near to the interesting Jewish Melleh quarter of the Medina with associated jewellery shops and only a handful of its original residents remaining.
Best Price Guaranteed! All prices match or are lower than those charged directly by Dar Maya.
We can check availability at Dar Maya for you, process your booking and assist you in finding alternative dates and accommodation if your first choice is already taken.
Every member of our team has expert knowledge of each riad including Dar Maya and can provide more information about the rooms, the location and how well suited it is to your specific requirements.
Telephone 020 7570 0336 and speak with one of our team today, or fill in the form below and we will get in touch.
Alternatively, search for Marrakech Riads with immediate online booking.
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Federal Transit Administration signs $474m funding agreement to help build central corridor light rail line
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Posted: 4 May 2011 | Federal Transit Administration | No comments yet
Largest public works project in Minnesota history will connect commuters with affordable transportation…
Minnesotans will soon have the option of taking light rail transit along the 11-mile Central Corridor that links the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the region, thanks to a $474 million funding agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council.
"With gas prices at record levels, President Obama has put forward a comprehensive plan to protect families and businesses from the ups and downs of energy costs," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Our investments in this critical transit link between the Twin Cities will cut travel costs for consumers, and help create a cleaner, greener way to get from one place to another."
Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff was joined by Metropolitan Council officials and local leaders this morning to take part in a ceremony to sign the "full funding grant agreement," which gives project sponsors the assurance that the federal government will appropriate a portion of its share each year until 2015, when the $957 million project will be fully funded.
"The Obama Administration is thrilled to partner with the people of Minnesota to build the largest public works project in the state's history," Administrator Rogoff said. "This project truly embodies the President's vision for winning the future through infrastructure investment. It will create thousands of construction jobs now while paving the way for many thousands of jobs that will come to the Twin Cities through the economic development successes surrounding the new rail line. "
The 11-mile Central Corridor light rail line, which includes 18 new stations, 31 new rail cars and a new vehicle maintenance facility in St. Paul, is scheduled to open in 2014. Trains will run every 7 ½ minutes during weekday peak periods. By the year 2030, it is expected that the line will carry more than 40,000 passengers on weekdays, generating 6,000 new transit trips a day.
In addition to serving the downtown areas of the Twin Cities, the Central Corridor line will provide improved access to the University of Minnesota, the Midway area, the State Capitol complex, major event venues including Target Field and the Metrodome, and many neighborhoods in between.


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(visited by Chris Lauritzen, Wendy Powell, Darren Nelson, Nadine Goodwin, Janene Liddy, Harry (Sony) Miarsono, Jodie Kuskopf, Kerryn Dodd, Michael Buckley and James Nagel)
17-Feb-2007 -- The confluence point at 1N 118E was 1.0 km East of the dock at Peridan, Kutai Timur, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia, under several coconut trees and other large species, with no understory but a tight tree canopy.
The ten of us left a small but well appointed village near Sangatta in East Kalimantan on the morning of Saturday 17th February aiming to reach 1N 118E by boat and foot.
We were following up on a prior unsuccessful attempt made on 3rd February when Sarah Boyce, Shane Bennett, Terry Liddy, and James Nagel reconnoitered the area, but retired after closing to within 500m of the confluence point from 4 different directions but being stopped by variously a swarm of hornets, impenetrable swamp and jungle (twice) and finally dehydration.
This larger team was better informed of the lie of the land and equipped with machetes, plenty of arms to swing them, plenty of water, and good humour.
The plan was to travel by boat to the Peridan dock, walk through Pak Junaidi's farm to about 500m from the confluence point, then cut our way through the jungle on the shortest path possible. Maps showed there was a creek we had to cross or extend our walk by several kilometers to go around it, but we were hopeful it would be shallow enough to wade and that no crocodiles were around.
Two hours spent on the local dive boat got us past Golok Bay, Miang Besar and Miang Kecil islands and up the Sangkulirang river to the Peridan dock, almost exactly one kilometer west of the confluence. We tied up alongside a local tug, asked the guys fixing the engine to keep an eye on our boat and walked through the riverside part of Peridan village. A five minute chat with some of the local people ensured we had permission and goodwill to continue the trip.
With foreknowledge we walked five minutes by footpath and paddy fields to 500 metres from the point, walked through a gap in the pig fence, took a bearing, drew the machetes and started into the jungle, straight up the side of a steep ridge about 50m high covered with tangled regrowth up to 3 meters in height. Cresting the hill we had to crawl through another pig fence and had about 400 metres to go. The jungle opened up a bit descending the other side of the ridge towards the creek but we still had to cut our way through.
Reaching the steep side of the creek we moved upstream 100 metres looking for a narrower spot to cross, but realized wading across was not an option with an unknown depth, a current running strongly and too much electronic gear at risk. A short conflab reached consensus to return the way we came and try to walk around on the paths Sarah, Shane and James had unsuccessfully followed two weeks earlier.
We had started back and were still on the side of the creek when a local man, Pak Eri, went past in his small wooden boat. The local small boats are called kiting-tings for the sound their motors make and this one could just carry four passengers. Discussions with Pak Eri persuaded him to defer laying his mud-crab pots for a few minutes to cart all ten of us 25 meters across the creek. Pak Eri assured us there were no big crocodiles, but the creek was at least 3 meters deep, and that he would be back in about a half hour to ferry us the return trip.
Scrambling up the opposite side of the creek in mud up to mid-calf deep we were now just over 300m from the confluence and were confronted with dense and spectacularly formed mangrove swap as far as we could see. Plunging on over roots, branches and more mud, after about 150m the mangroves gave way to a dense thicket of short palms with savage thorns all over them, underlain by swampy clinging mud.
This was the terrain that had defeated the attempt two weeks prior. Our progress slowed dramatically as people took turns cutting our path while trying not to be caught on the palm fronds. Many swings and spikes and prickles later we had made a further 50m in about 30 minutes and the team was beginning to tire, when the prickle palms started to thin out a little and the land started to rise and dry out.
The last 30 meters to the confluence was through forest with very little understory but a densely closed canopy that made getting satellite lock an exercise in patience and still only achieved 23m accuracy. We arrived at the confluence just before 11:30 am and the last 500m had taken us almost 2.5 hours to cover.
The confluence of 1N 118E is on the side of another low ridge that runs NE-SW, and while we were probably the first to recognize the location as a confluence, the pile of cut coconuts almost on the confluence showed we were not the first visitors.
After taking the requisite photos, we looked for 5 minutes before finding our tracks and following our cut path back to the creek. Back on the side of the creek Pak Eri was nowhere to be seen, we were considerably later than expected we assumed he was probably off at lunch. After waiting on the bank for about 15 minutes Pak Sony rang a friend, Pak Ismu Nandar who was born in Peridan village and had become the Assistant Secretary for East Kutai, the local Kabupaten or Regency.
Pak Ismu arranged for another local Pak Mael to collect us from the side of the creek in his very attractive speedboat and as most of group was very tired, Pak Mael drove us in two seriously muddy loads directly back to the our boat moored at Peridan dock.
After a bit of a wash in the wide Sangkulirang river to address the worst of the mud, we motored across the river to Sangkulirang township for an excellent lunch of barbequed chicken, fish and fried rice. We left Sangkulirang in a rain storm and after a few dramas on the trip down river, made it back to the Makassar Strait to open sea and got home just after 4 pm having covered more than 160 km in the day.


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Working with AfricaGuide for 12 years
We are an adventure tour company operating in Africa since 1999.
We offer a variety of tours across Africa from multi-country overland safaris and small group packages, to city stays and adventure activity breaks.
Our goal is to provide exciting and affordable tours, and we have in-depth knowledge of our destinations and respect for the local cultures and environments. From the plains of the Serengeti or the iconic River Nile, to thundering Victoria Falls and picturesque Cape Town, we firmly believe there is nothing quite as fulfilling as a journey through Africa.


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Two Kent State faculty members have been awarded the Farris Family Innovation Award for their research projects.
Aaron Jasnow, Ph.D., of the Department of Psychology, received the award for his project titled "Understanding Emotion: From Molecules to Mind." Melissa Zullo, Ph.D., of the College of Public Health, was awarded for her project titled "Quality Improvement Initiatives in the Gynecology Robotic Operating Room."
The Farris Family Innovation Award rewards faculty members who combine scholarship of teaching, discovery and application in new and effective ways. After recommendations by the provost, applicants are reviewed by the Provost's Advisory Council and then sent to the president for final approval.
Winners of the award each receive up to $8,000 for up to three years. The money from this grant covers expenses in undergraduate research, graduate student stipends, equipment expenses and travel associated with faculty projects.
Find more information on how to apply for next year's Farris Family Innovation Award
Two Kent State Professors Receive Farris Family Innovation Awards
Two Kent State faculty members have been awarded the Farris Family Innovation Award for their research projects.
POSTED: Monday, April 23, 2012 01:17 PM
Updated: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 02:45 PM


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Istanbul, Reuters—Turkish police on Saturday shut Gezi Park, the Istanbul square at the center of mass demonstrations in 2013, to prevent any efforts to mark the anniversary of the biggest anti-government protests in decades.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was the target of many protesters' ire last year, warned people to stay out of Taksim Square, which adjoins the park, saying security forces would do whatever is necessary to keep the area clear.
Riot police circled the perimeter of Gezi, and hundreds of plainclothes officers carrying batons patrolled Istiklal, a major shopping street that leads to Taksim as well as a popular tourist spot.
There was no sign of unrest at midday. Taksim Solidarity, one of the main organizers of last year's protest movement, called for a rally at Taksim at 7 pm.
On May 31, 2013, police forcefully evicted environmentalists from Gezi Park who had staged a peaceful sit-in for several days to try to stop government plans to raze the green space and build a shopping mall.
Angered by the use of violence, tens of thousands of people from a variety of political backgrounds descended on Gezi and occupied Taksim Square for about two weeks before authorities finally cleared the space. Many complained of what they saw as growing authoritarianism after Erdoğan's decade in office.
Six people including one police officer died in the demonstrations, which had spread to other major Turkish cities, and another half-dozen or so others have lost their lives in related protests in the ensuing months.
"Our security forces have clear orders. They will do whatever is necessary from A to Z," Erdoğan said at a ceremony in Istanbul that was broadcast live by the NTV news channel.
Elif Cetinkaya, 45, and her family gathered across the street from Gezi Park on Saturday, wearing T-shirts with the images of those killed in the 2013 unrest.
"Why did so many people have to die to save this park? We are here to mourn their loss and show that we stand firm, no matter what obstacles they erect," Cetinkaya said.
Smaller demos have erupted in Taksim and other parts of Istanbul sporadically since last June but none have been near the scale of the first two weeks of protests at the square.
The protest movement appeared to have little impact on the ruling AK Party's political fortunes when it handily won national municipal elections in March.
But Gezi Park remains a park, one of the few green spaces in central Istanbul, Europe's biggest city.
Newspapers said 25,000 officers had been deployed on Saturday. Police thronged the residential district of Cihangir, relaxing in parking lots and at cafes as a light rain fell.
The metro station at Taksim was also closed to travelers, as were boulevards that lead to the square.
Ferryboat services between Istanbul's shores on either side of the Bosporus Strait were also cancelled on orders of the governor's office, the city ferry line said on its website.


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Festive drinks for your New Years Eve Party.
Pomegranate Sparklers
Eggnog Punch
Wanna stretch your bubbly to make it last a little longer? Make it a extra yummy, add fruit juice to it! It will not only last longer, but it kicks up the flavor.
Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
For a non alcoholic beverage, try
Apple Sparkler
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sparkling Sips
Posted by Unknown at 1:44 PM 3 comments
Labels: Bottoms Up
Easy NYE party buffet ideas
Well well well, out with the old in with the new.. year that is! I can't believe 2008 is just about over. Where does the time go? Speaking of which, I need to get a move on my party buffet menu for tomorrow night. I am hosting a small shindig at my home to ring in 09 with family and friends. So let's see what can I whip up really quickly for a tasty way to ring in 2009. Since my guest will arrive after dinner, I'll serve appetizers and sweet treats. So far I have...
Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
Balsamic Cranberry Drizzle
Double-Quick Shrimp Cocktail
One more, I found this one over at Celebrations at home. It looks yummy!
Spinach-Artichoke Party Cups
1st photo
Any other ideas??
Posted by Unknown at 9:29 AM 2 comments
Labels: Good Eats
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!!
Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
Enjoy the time you spend with your loved ones!
Posted by Unknown at 3:30 PM 0 comments
Labels: A Reason to Celebrate
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
More budget friendly ideas
Speaking of budget ideas for the holidays, how about this unconventional gift wrap? The buttons were made to form a X-Mas tree, how cute!
Another budget friendly idea is to use materials that you can find hanging around your house for holiday decor. I put brown paper bags, paper towel rolls, and tissue paper to use, and created these party favors. I stuffed the rolls with candy that match the decor, and used tissue paper to dress up the paper towel rolls as party favors.
I also used tissue paper to create luminaries, by covering votives
I made napkin rings and place cards (please pardon my sloppy handwriting) from brown paper bag. The little twigs you see are from my backyard free of charge.
I also pulled some branches from the tree to create a festive piece, and yep the paper bag came in handy again.
The branches and bags are tinted with silver spray paint to make it more festive. I also filled additional bags with ornaments and prettied them up with bows.
So there it is, budget friendly ideas using materials you can find in your home and your own back yard!
Posted by Unknown at 5:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: Creative Concepts, Party Decor, Party Favors, Seasonal Soirées
Affordable Holiday Decor
This morning on GMA, Lifestyle expert and event planner David Monn demostrated how to achieve gorgeous inexpensive holiday buffet tables. He also gave a few tips on setting the mood.
From GMA
"To set the stage you need to engage the senses. The most important is your sense of smell. Find one nice holiday fragrance or add mulling spices to your stove and let the smell entice the guests as they arrive.
Play great music, dim the lights and let the party start.
Keep it simple. Choose one main color and one accent color and stick with them."
I was quite impressed with his ingenuity. The first buffet was a Wintergreen dinner buffet made from layered white burlap lattice work pattern over a green felt table cloth.
He made 12 24x24 burlap Napkins to match by simply pulling the threads from all corners to create a cut work design. The napkin edges were fringed about 1 3/4". To create the inside border, a ruler was used to measure 1 1/2" from the edge and pulled one inch worth of threads.
The next buffet set up was a Winter Wonderland Dessert Buffet
The table cloth is quilt batting with two white strand of Christmas lights under it. This is an old cut up birch log we used as the food levels. If you don't have a log you can also cover cardboard boxes. White boas from the dollar store and fake snow from Kmart complete the look.
Vist David Monn's website and blog to see his beautiful work and inspiring ideas.
Posted by Unknown at 9:16 AM 0 comments
Labels: Party Decor, Seasonal Soirées
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wow your guest from the door
The first impression is a lasting one. Deck out your doorway for the holidays, wow your guest from the door. Check out these impressive holiday doorways.
Have extra wreaths, and don't know where to put them? Stack em' up!
Doorway 1
Doorway 2
Doorway 3
Posted by Unknown at 8:24 AM 1 comments
Labels: Party Decor
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday Favorites: Pedestals and Tiered Stands!
Oh how I love these….Not only for the practicality of them being a space saver, but aren't they just darling?! I'm an avid collector of all types of tiered stands and pedestals. They will always add that extra flair to your buffet table.
I love the crisp clean look of these Martha Stewart White wear cake stands
Bamboo Tiered Server resembles a ladder, too cute!
Three Tiered Server
Can you get anymore elegant than these Crystal Epergnes?
Oh So Dainty this 3 Tiered Porcelain Bowl Rack
Posted by Unknown at 8:17 AM 0 comments
Labels: Favorite Things
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Edible X-Mas Gifts
You don't have to spend an arm and a leg on Christmas gifts this year. Try one of these yummy goodies I found on Parents. Your friends and family are sure to love you for it!
From top left
Truffle Tartlet
Buttermilk Pralines
Cheddar Herb Bread Mix
From bottom left.
Chocolate peppermint sandwiches
Italian Nut Biscotti Sticks
Peppermint Sticks
Posted by Unknown at 4:58 PM 0 comments
Labels: Good Eats
Christmas Mantels
I know everyone probably already decorated their homes for the holidays. But if not, even if you did, you have to check out these gorgeous mantels I found on Parents.com. They are gorgeous, you may want to redecorate!
I absolutely love candles! I have them on my own mantel.
Posted by Unknown at 4:03 PM 0 comments
Labels: Seasonal Soirées
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail
It's that time again... Holiday cocktails! How yummy does these drinks look!?
If you like warm apple pie, this is the one for you.
Positively Warm Apple Pie
6 oz. apple cider (heated)
2 oz. Tuaca liqueur
Whipped cream
Pinch cinnamon and nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
In a glass coffee mug or heat-resistant goblet, combine your heated cider and Tuaca.
Top with whipped cream.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Add your cinnamon stick.
Mrs. McMullen's Appleberry Pie
2-1/2 oz. cognac (ask your liquor store for a good one)
2-1/2 oz. apple juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
5 red grapes
5 raspberries
3 blueberries
2 blackberries
3 blueberries and 2 raspberries (garnish)
Muddle all of the fruit in a glass cocktail shaker.
Add ice.
Add cognac and apple juice.
Shake and strain over fresh ice in a large wine goblet.
Garnish with a mix of blueberries and raspberries
Uncle Billy's Holiday Treat
1-1/2 oz. Bols Advocaat liqueur (creamy blend of egg yolks, aromatic spirits, brandy and a hint of vanilla)
1 oz. Kahlua coffee liqueur
1 oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
1/2 oz. honey
1/2 oz. whipped cream
1 strawberry
Chocolate shavings
Combine the Advocaat, Kahlua, Frangelico and honey in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Top with whipped cream.
Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.
Ok last one... I love love love Sangria!
Spiced Pear Sangria
1 bottle chilled dry white wine
1 bottle chilled champagne (modestly good champagne will do)
3 oz. Damiana liqueur (herbal liqueur with citrus and vanilla flavors)
2 freshly sliced pears
2 apples (sliced and cored)
20 whole cloves
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
In a large pitcher, add the pears, apples, cloves and nutmeg.
Add the Damiana liqueur and stir.
Add the wine and stir gently.
Refrigerate overnight.
When you're ready to serve, pour in your champagne, stirring it slowly within the mixture. Serve in an ice-filled wineglass.
Check out Fine Living for more holiday cocktail treats!
Posted by Unknown at 10:06 AM 0 comments
Labels: Bottoms Up
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I recieved a lesson in napkin folding from the manager of a restaurant I visisted for an event. Who new there were so many ways to fold a napkin! Napkins will make your tablescape extra special. Check out what they demponstrated for me.
These are all really nice. It will certainly add A Flair Factor to the table.
He was able to fold the napkins so quickly, that I decided to try it myself. Of course I don't have the experience of the pros, but I tried anyway. I found instructions on additional interesting folds for you to try at your next event. Or maybe just for an everyday dinner with your family or your honey. :-)
The Fancy Silverware Pouch
The Bird Of Paradise Napkin Fold
The shirt fold
Posted by Unknown at 10:08 AM 2 comments
Labels: Party Decor
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Balloons or Paper Lanterns?
I love the look of paper lanterns! They can be just as festive as balloons, I think of it as the sleek grown up balloon. Balloons are cute, fun and makes your decor festive. They come in a huge variety of colors and shapes. You can find balloons to comliment almost any theme or decor for your party. And they can be cheap! Depending on the occasion, either one will be a great decor choice. I'm thinking of using paper lanterns for an up coming bridal shower. But I'm still tossed up between balloons(being the economical choice) or paper lanterns the "sleek balloon." Check out some of the great photo inspiration I found.
I love the paper lanterns with lit with LED lights.
paper lanterns can be pretty fabulous!!
You can do pretty amazing things with balloons huh...
photo credits
Paper Lanterns 1-3
4th Lantern photo
1-2 Balloon photo
23-4 Balloon photo
Posted by Unknown at 8:55 PM 1 comments
Labels: Party Decor


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Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BEIJING (AP) - Casting a spotlight on China's controls on the media, Vice President Joe Biden met with U.S. journalists working in Beijing Thursday after publicly criticizing how they're treated by China's government.
Closing a two-day trip to Beijing, Biden listened to concerns from journalists who may be forced to leave China in what some have perceived as retaliation for stories that have reflected poorly on the government. U.S. news organizations have said China's actions could have a chilling effect on hard-hitting journalism and the ability of American reporters to operate in the country.
"Innovation thrives where people breathe freely, speak freely, are able to challenge orthodoxy, where newspapers can report the truth without fear of consequences," Biden said earlier Thursday as he addressed U.S. business executives in Beijing. "We have many disagreements, and some profound disagreements, on some of those issues right now, in the treatment of U.S. journalists."
The public rebuke came a day after Biden raised the issue directly in wide-ranging, marathon meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Although the White House did not release a full list of journalists attending the Thursday session with Biden in a Beijing hotel bar, the New York Times and Bloomberg News, in particular, have fallen afoul of Beijing over some of their reporting.
Both American news organizations have had their websites blocked in China since late last year after each published detailed investigative reports exposing the enormous wealth amassed by the relatives of Chinese leaders _ including Xi and former Premier Wen Jiabao.
In what appeared to be further official retaliation for their reporting, the two organizations have seen unusually long delays in approvals for visas for their resident journalists _ hindering their ability to replace existing reporters or hire new ones. If those visas aren't resolved soon, reporters may have to leave the country.
"Unfettered coverage of China is a crucial issue," Jill Abramson, the executive editor of the Times, said Thursday in a statement. "At a time when China is such an important and compelling story, the world needs the highest quality reporting on it."
Earlier this week, a reporter for Bloomberg was excluded from an event with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, prompting a protest from Cameron's staff. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the reporter had been excluded to give priority to Chinese and U.K. journalists.
China consistently ranks near the bottom of the list in an annual index of press freedoms compiled by Reporters Without Borders. A 2011 human rights report from the U.S. State Department said China maintains strict controls on foreign journalists, and that local employees of foreign news outlets have reported harassment and intimidation by Chinese authorities.
But the United States _ and the Obama administration in particular _ has also been criticized when it comes to freedom of the press. A report in October from the Committee to Protect Journalists concluded that aggressive prosecution of leaks and efforts to control information are having a chilling effect on journalists and government whistle-blowers.
Among the actions that have drawn recent complaints from the U.S. media was the U.S. Justice Department's secret seizure of records for telephone lines and switchboards used by more than 100 journalists with The Associated Press. The Obama administration has also targeted government employees and contractors for prosecution under the 1917 Espionage Act over accusations they leaked classified information to reporters.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei responded to Biden by insisting that China's treatment of foreign journalists complies with the country's laws and regulations.
"Over the past few years, we have provided a very convenient environment for foreign journalists reporting in China," Hong said during a press briefing. "Everybody can see the progress we made."
Although Biden's China visit was intended to strengthen ties with the Asian power, the vice president made a point of nudging China in a more democratic direction as he engaged with citizens in the Chinese capital. A day earlier, Biden urged students waiting to get visitor visas processed at the U.S. embassy to challenge their government and reject the status quo.
Robert Daly, a China expert at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said the problem seems to be getting worse. Daly has testified about the issue before Congress and said that as China seeks greater clout on the world stage, it's in Beijing's self-interest to offer the same type of access that other powerful, confident nations provide.
"China's soft power is taking a very hard, self-inflicted hit," Daly said. "It would be helpful to China to get a broader more complete narrative about China out there."
Reach Josh Lederman at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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10 Reasons You'll Love Interface Styles
- You get ten style palettes for one great price.
- You get free updates to any future version of Interface Styles.
- You get the files for both Photoshop and Fireworks so you can work the way you want.
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- You'll make stunning mockups that will blow your colleagues and clients away.
- Your interface will finally have the crisp, pixel-perfect graphics that your users have longed for.
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- You'll always have an array of different interface styles to choose from.
Most designers spend a ton of time and energy to make beautiful, pixel-perfect mockups of their interface. With Interface Styles, you no longer have to. Interface Styles gives you the power to add polish to your interface elements in one click. Making mockups has never been this fast and easy. And the result will always leave your clients stunned and wanting more.
The single user license for one person is $27.00. The multiple user license for more than one person is $57.00. After you buy your license, you will receive an email to download the files. Check your spam and bulk folders if you don't see it in your inbox.